Lybian volunteer grouping with Al Valore Militare medal

[Jean-Loup]

This small group was sourced in Lybia. Quite clearly it belonged to a Lybian volunteer of the Italian army named Aissaben Massoud Ali.
What is the desirability of this group to Italian collectors? Would it be considered something interesting, or something boring? Does anyone know about the events carved into the medal: Ella di Curi, 5 March 1937?

JL

[tankredi]

Nice find, especially the dog tag.

But I wouldn't call the colonial Libyan soldier a "volunteer".
Italy raised troops in their colonies just like other European powers did in theirs.

[Semovente]

Interesting the translation i get for Sella di Guri scratched round the rim. ..is Saddle of Guri ? ...😮...but a nice lot & rare to find i would say...

[Jean-Loup]

Point taken regarding the word "volunteer". I was under the impression that the Italian reign in Libya didnt last long enaugh for locals to be able to be conscripted and for them to accept the conscription.

Why is the ID tag more interesting than the medal?
I got a couple of PMs indicating that these items are considered desirable.
And after a first unsuccessfull search due to bad spelling, I was able to find the medal citation: he continued fighting although wounded, showing courage and devotion to duty.
Sella di Gure doesnt seem to be a very famous place as it doesnt bring up a single match on google with that spelling. "Saddle" is probably refering to a mountain.

Many non-italian collectors do not realise that Italian medals can be researched very easily and thus make very, very, interesting collectibles. Before spitting on Italian ID tags and saying they are worth 5 Euro, you would do well to look the man up first.

JL

[Semovente]

Guri is in Eritrea East Africa northwest of Gabale !...Semovente

[Jean-Loup]

More and more interesting, thank you.
I am not sure if this "Guri Addo" is the place? Looks a bit remote.

Once again, why is the ID tag the most interesting?
Am I correct that the medal is a Medaglia di Bronzo al Valore Militare?
And finaly, what does the "T" behind Fanteria stand for?

JL

[Semovente]

Well maybe thats were he was from originaly ?...but i didnt say anything about the dog tag been more interesting !?......to me as i said i would think they are both rare items and of equal interest !

[tankredi]

Once again, why is the ID tag the most interesting?

How many Italian dog tags with Arabian names on have you seen so far?
To me yours is the first I see!

[Jean-Loup]

Good point. I didnt think they were particularly rare though. One has been posted here before without arousing a word of interest: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=alamein
I am reposting the photos from that old thread here.

JL

[Gil]

This last was a Zaptié, auxiliary troops of Italian Royal Carabinieri

[PAOLORUBENS]

my dog tag

this is my dog tag

[Semovente]

Well now i take back the Rare bit ! ....now we have three colonial troops dog tags !?...

[PAOLORUBENS]

let's say ... not common ... I know where several tags are sleeping

Well now i take back the Rare bit ! ....now we have three colonial troops dog tags !?...

[PAOLORUBENS]

...

if I recall correct ... we had around 30.000 native Libyans during the war , add more native from East Africa , it makes those tags potentially not rare at all

Well now i take back the Rare bit ! ....now we have three colonial troops dog tags !?...

[Semovente]

if I recall correct ... we had around 30.000 native Libyans during the war , add more native from East Africa , it makes those tags potentially not rare at all

Yes quite so Paolo ..but still i cannot recall ever seeing any Native ones before !?.... sometimes its those little things that count !...